The Great Outdoors – August 2019

Always take a map and compass with you.©Crown copyright 2019 Ordnance Survey. Media 051/19

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1 Start

East Kirbest

GR: HY428437

Park in layby or arrange for

transport to start (see ‘Further

information’). Follow marked road

until it ends, then continue 500m

ahead to reach the coast.

2

Follow coastline north,

keeping wire fence on right.

3

Once you enter the RSPB

Noup Cliffs reserve, keep

following the coastline until you

reach Noup Head lighthouse.

4

From the lighthouse, follow

the unsealed lane heading

east. It eventually takes a sharp R,

then a sharp L, before reaching a

T-junction. Head L, then R at the

next crossroads, before following

the road down into Pierowall.

5

Finish

Seafront at Pierowall

GR: HY438487

Westray

Orkney SCOTLAND

16.1km/10 miles/4.5-5 hours

Ascent 960m/3160ft^1

TO PARAPHRASE

Audrey Hepburn, who

may have been talking

about somewhere different,

Orkney is always a good

idea. It’s uncrowded and

largely midge-free, crying

out for slow, sandwich-

powered exploration. Of

its more than 70 islands,

only Hoy has what could

be described as a Highland

topography; but there’s

enough beauty and stillness

to the others to make them

appealing. Granted, hikers

may not want to rush here

in winter for the short

days and wet winds. But

otherwise, Orkney is always

a good idea.

I’d come to Westray, one

of the northernmost islands

in the group, for a coastal

walk. My trailhead was a

Gradient profile Metres above sea level

Ben Lerwill

goes west in

the far north

The Great OutdoorsAugust 2019 87